Tag: Tami Urcia

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Today’s Responsorial is one of the most poetic and well-known Psalms. I remember reciting it as part of an English assignment in high school. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” And it goes on and on to describe verdant pastures, restful waters, abundant tables, anointed heads, and overflowing cups.

Surely David was in a very good mood when he wrote this because my life surely doesn’t look like that! (Unless I’m on a Hawaiian vacation, maybe…but let’s get real.) The part about walking in a dark valley sounds more like it. So many uncertainties, so many unknowns, so much wondering how I will do this or when I will have time to do that.

But maybe it’s not so much about whether my life is full of picturesque scenery and rich foods, but rather the second part of each of these phrases: I shall not want. He gives me repose. He leads me. He refreshes my soul. You are at my side. You give me courage.
It is YOU who are spreading the symbolic table, YOU who are anointing my head, YOU who are the source of the goodness and kindness that follow me.

Now THAT is something I can chew on, because despite the uncertainties, the unknowns and the wondering, I DO know that I will never go without necessities, that he will always give me the opportunity to rest in Him, He will consistently guide me, He will refresh me, stay with me and grant me courage.

The self-inflicted troubles come when I try to do it all on my own. I try to take the reins of my own life. After all, it’s mine to live, right? If I want something, I push, push, push, trying to obtain it, often amid angst and frustration. Why don’t I just ask Him if that’s what He wants? When my kids or my financial situation or my family problems build upon my heart, I want to explode and end up crying like a spoiled child. Why don’t I just place them in His hands and see what wonderful things unfold?

So often, I try to “lord it over” my life, as the First Reading mentions. But in the end, I am just making it harder for myself.

Lord, show me, lead me, guide me. Grant me that assurance, that rest, that courage that I need to follow you in all things, knowing that you will make my cup overflow.

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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In today’s First Reading, Solomon utters a beautiful, awe-filled prayer of blessing over the temple. He humbly realizes that this new structure cannot contain the God of heaven and earth, but does acknowledge that He will be honored there, and thus wishes it to be a holy sanctuary.

Perhaps we might feel similarly when we step foot inside an adoration chapel. We recognize that God is not contained in that room, or even in that monstrance, but we come to honor and adore him in that holy place. Churches and chapels and even designated areas of our homes are truly important because they raise our minds and hearts to God amid the chaos of our everyday lives.

But even more significant, our very bodies are important for that same reason. Jesus chastises the scribes and Pharisees for holding fast to so many unnecessary rules when their hearts were far from him. How often do we ourselves “nullify the word of God” in favor of our not so good habits?

Our overall health is important to our mission of being a light to the world. If I cannot temper my attachment to caffeine, fast food, and sugary treats in order to have more energy to give it all to my kids, am I reaching my full potential? If I cannot overcome my laziness to get some decent exercise a few times a week in order to relieve stress and obtain greater psychological health, is my light reaching as far as it could?

I remember thinking when I was 12 years old that I knew all there was to know about my faith and that I would quite possibly be bored the rest of my life simply living it out. Now, I realize more than ever how far I am from living it out to the fullest.

I have been convicted lately to make some major changes in 2020. I stopped reading compelling, page-turning novels and started reading spiritual and self-improvement books instead. I began drinking six glasses of water a day to keep my body awake and hydrated. I began seeking more concrete ways to provide for my family’s needs. But most of all, I have felt convicted to pour out more of myself, particularly to my kids.

It’s still so often all about me. I’m tired, I’m sick of the noise, I’m not in the mood to play chess, I’m waiting for you to brush your teeth so I can go to bed. My heart needs a dramatic change. I am not giving until it hurts. When it starts to hurt, I raise my voice or send them to their room. I am not listening to their stories. When they want to go on and on about their day, I tell them to hurry up because I’m tired.

Maybe if I were more respectful to my kids, they would be more respectful of others. Maybe if I listened to them better, they would listen to me. Maybe, just maybe, if I gave my all to them, a much more positive atmosphere would ensue.

So here’s to concrete changes in my own “temple” and my own heart. May I confirm instead of nullifying the Word of God so that I might be a light to others, beginning with the littles right under my nose (literally).

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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Today’s Gospel Reading always reminds me of the song “This Little Light of Mine” that many of us learned as children. Jesus seems to be using a bit of sarcasm here. ‘Seriously, people, you have this amazing truth within you, and you’re just going to hide it away?’ (“Hide it under a bushel, NO!”) Place it on a lampstand! Proclaim it to the world! (“Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!”)

As I was praying the USCCB’s novena, “9 Days For Life” this past week, I came across this simple line: “Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and to share the light of Christ with those most in need of His love and mercy.” Such a simple concept but something as small as a smile can make a difference in someone’s day. When we bite our tongue instead of letting that negative comment slip, when we compliment instead of criticizing, we are making our world a better place, one “little light” at a time.

Jesus goes on to say, “Take care what you hear.”
“Whatever goes in must come out” does not only refer to our digestive system, but to our brains as well. The movies and shows we watch, the podcasts and music we listen to, and the news and blogs we read all impact our thoughts, words and actions. It is increasingly easy to become so overwhelmed by information, albeit, most of it negative, that we find ourselves becoming negative as well. The latest winter weather advisory fills us with worry. The latest conflict overseas fills us with anxiety. The latest tragedy fills us with sorrow. The latest injustice fills us with anger…

Where is the light in all of this? Where is our smile? It appears that the most logical solution is to do exactly what Jesus says: “Take care what you hear.” Do we really need to know Congress’s every move, or could we rather pay more focused attention to the needs of those around us each and every day? Do we really need to watch the newest war movie that is all the rage, or could we rather be more attentive to the war raging within our very being, inviting us to leave our unnecessary desires aside and deepen our relationship with our loving God instead?

Each and every time we make that effort to be more Christ-like, to go the extra mile to be kind, to not join in the gossip, to make a sacrifice for the good of another, we are promised ample reward. “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.” In other words, God will not be outdone in generosity. You give an inch and He gives you a mile.

So let’s keep that beautifully simple song running through minds and hearts today. May our little lights shine so as to brighten the lives of those around us.

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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It seems like I am always harping on my kids to listen to me. “Come down and eat your breakfast!” “Go put on your socks and shoes!” “Where’s the TV remote?” “Quit pushing your brother!” I give so many time outs for disobedience or “selective hearing” if that’s what you want to call it. There is always a reason, always an excuse. When it comes down to it, they simply don’t do what I ask them to or stall for roughly a month or two.

Samuel expresses his frustration with Saul in today’s First Reading for similar reasons. He didn’t obey the Lord’s command. Saul tries to explain it away by saying he did some of what the Lord asked, a portion of it, and then whines about how his army started misbehaving. Well, just like putting on one sock instead of two really isn’t obeying, Saul really didn’t obey, and God decided it was time for someone else to rule.

We truly are blessed abundantly when we walk alongside the Lord. Saul was given the privilege of ruling as long as he obeyed. Once he disobeyed, that privilege was taken away. Most of the time, when I tell my kids to put their socks and shoes on, it’s because I am going to take them someplace fun. When they listen, they have the privilege of going with me.

Just as Samuel told Saul, “The Lord anointed you the king of Israel and sent you on a mission,” we have also been anointed by the Lord in baptism and given a mission in life. The great majority of us are not kings or rulers or even CEO’s, but we do have a mission. Perhaps for some, their mission is more clear, like those called to the priesthood or religious life, but for others, we struggle to realize what that mission is.

Maybe we can draw some direction from the Gospel and seek to pour new wine into fresh wineskins. Yes, we can be a font of renewal, a breath of fresh air, a positive voice in this negative world. We can care, engage, share, listen, and love. We can attempt to be that upright person the Psalmist speaks of in order to see and spread the saving power of God. Through obedience to Him, we can truly be the face of Christ to all we meet.

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.

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Today we celebrate the Patroness of all of the Americas. This feast day has become such a great celebration that it can no longer be contained to Mexico alone. Our loving Mother, back in 1531, appeared to Juan Diego as Our Lady of Guadalupe. She is accredited with freeing the Mexican people from idolatry and reconciling the Spanish and indigenous peoples in a common devotion. In other words, she single-handedly united the Mexican people and converted virtually the entire nation to Catholicism.

The miraculous qualities of the image she left on Juan Diego’s cloak are simply amazing. There are several people reflected in her eyes, including Juan Diego himself and the bishop he was asked to approach. The material’s temperature is 98.6 degrees, the same as a living person. No one has been able to replicate the pigments found in the image, neither from mineral, animal or vegetable sources. The image has been preserved for over 500 years, despite fire, a bomb, and an acid spill, not to mention that the fibrous fabric normally deteriorates after just 15 years.

Having lived in Mexico for three and a half years as a missionary, I have witnessed the incredible devotion there. Multiple images of her adorn almost every home. Novenas and rosaries occur at churches and in homes leading up to her feast day. Hundreds of thousands of faithful travel in pilgrimage each year, some are walking on their knees to arrive at her shrine on December 12th. Their devotion to her brings them to communion, to Christ, to the Eucharist.

I had the privilege to visit the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine several times while I lived there. The whole area has such a holy feel to it. Her presence is palpable. But I think what impacted me the most was the fact that people from all over the world, from diverse political parties, a gamut of social classes, differing colors of skin, ways of dress, from the very rich to the very poor, were found there, and they were all doing the very same thing: Praying. A moving walkway under her image kept “traffic” flowing, but most went back and forth multiple times, lips moving, hands raised, eyes elevated. You could see the faith and perhaps the desperation of each person there, all human beings crying out for intercession from the Mother of God and our Mother. Just as she united the Mexican people in the 1500s, she continues to unite all of us today.

I had many difficult moments as a missionary. Moments of vocational crisis, incomprehension, loneliness, and longing, and what got me through it all were my nightly visits to Our Lady. I would cry out to her, and often I would cry. I would pour out my woes and feel her soothe me, as a mother calms her child.

We are almost halfway through this Advent season. I would invite you, as you prepare your hearts for the coming of the Christ-Child, to do so hand in hand with Our Blessed Mother. She is the person closest to our Lord, the one who knows Him the best, knows His heart, knows your heart. For the remainder of this Advent, allow her to unite your heart to His.

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Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.